Mature Voices Minnesota is open for business as the Minnesota Senior Federation closes its doors
In June, the Minnesota Senior Federation, long time friend of Minnesota seniors, found it necessary to dissolve after thirty-seven years of serving Minnesota seniors. Some decline in paid memberships but mostly an unanticipated loss of grants due to the economic downturn made continuing impossible.
Many vital Senior Federation programs have found other homes. Senior Partners Care will be continued by Volunteers of America/Minnesota. The annual Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare guide will be published by the Minnesota Board on Aging. Senior Rx Care pharmacies will continue Federation pricing (contact 877.828.7555). AAA membership and insurance discounts will continue.
But advocacy for seniors was a primary occupation of the Senior Federation, an occupation today even more essential with so many Minnesotans nearing retirement. Fortunately, a group of Senior Federation activists formed a new organization – Mature Voices Minnesota – to take on the health care, housing, transportation, and senior living issues that the Senior Federation so ably addressed. Its founders also expect it to address issues now affecting baby boomers: care giving of older relatives and parents and continuing civic engagement or employment while moving into retirement. Mature Voice Minnesota might pick up the Senior Federation’s Drug Import Program, the nation’s first Internet link by a nonprofit to low-cost drugs from abroad. Lee Graczyk, the Issues Director from the Senior Federation, will be its only full-time staff.
Mature Voices Minnesota will not have paid memberships like the Senior Federation did. Its financial support will come through individual contributions and foundation grants. Yet, it will be guided to the issues affecting seniors by those seniors volunteering their time and effort; in that way, it will retain the membership-directed nature that made the Senior Federation so influential. To start, it will primarily seek support in the Twin Cities area, although any Minnesotan can contribute, participate, and offer their guidance.
